Raised In Love

This night we celebrate the baby of the family. LOL He towers over us all.

Missing our sweet daughter and he family.

S. clearly got his height from MeMaw's side of the family.

PePaw made the long trip with MeMaw, Aunt Leslie and Austin.

We are so thankful to have had part of our family make the effort to drive in.

Our amazing boys!

Saturday Celebration

Saturday found us with friends who've had great roles in this young man's life.

His pediatrician who has known him from day 1. 

We are blessed to have a life-time friendship with this couple. 

PePaw's twin, his wife and cousin Gary

Carol, baker of our brownies, our friend of 20 yrs.

Mr. Neal.

He continues to be young Stefan's friend and he goes to their house for lunch

since he works near them. So glad my kids appreciate an older generation and 

all that can be learned. Mr. Neal always opened his shop and loaned his tools to our boys.

They had a great experience homeschooling with the country folk.

Three generations. Mom, Dad, Me & S.  Love that my kids

could walk down the path to MeMaw & PePaw's house.

A glimpse of Mrs. Neal whose real name is Jimmie but as a little boys S. learned to call everyone

by a proper title, Mr or Mrs. and by rights, her title became Mrs. Neal....its tickles her pink.

In The Word

On my mornings off I like to have my cup of coffee and read my One Year Bible first thing.

I remember the days when I was so bleary-eyed from being a young mother that I

couldn't even see the pages. I couldn't focus my eyes much less my mind. I knew I was supposed to read and have my devotions but it was sooo hard.

These last years I am so enjoying my readings.

Last year for my birthday I won a giveaway from The Shabby Creek Cottage. It was a gift certificate to Dayspring gifts. I had had my eye on several things and the Mr. & Mrs mugs were one. 

It's my new favorite cup to "have and to hold".

This week we also thought we might be leaving our town for another. I had a few things that I knew would be missed. I usually open the window to hear the birds in the bushes and smell the fresh air. If it's chilly I grab a throwand curl up. The light dances across the pages of my Bible in patterns that resemble the lace curtains it peaks through. I like this spot. I would miss this corner.

...Ah, but now we aren't going anywhere, so no worries.

The Recipe

Seven Minute Icing

1 1/2 c sugar

1/3 c cold water

2 egg whites

2 t light corn syrup or 1/4 t cream of tartar

1 t vanilla

In the top of a double boiler combine sugar, cold water, egg whites, corn syrup or cream of tartar and a dash of salt. Beat 30 seconds on low with your electric mixer. Place over boiling water (upper pan should not touch water). Cook about 7 minutes while beating constantly on high speed -or- until stiff peaks form. 

Remove from heat; add vanilla. Beat 2-3 minutes or until spreading consistency. Frosts tops and sides of two 8-9 inch layers or one 10 inch tube cake.

*********************************************************************************

In the day before canned frosting...there was homemade. 

If you don't have a double boiler you can improvise. You need one large pan on bottom with an inch or so of water. Place another pan inside to create the dbl. boiler. I have a steaming rack that I place on bottom of the larger. It folds open like a flower and it lets the top pan rest there while cooking.  

This is NOT a seven minute icing. You will cook longer than that so don't be discouraged when you've been standing there for 10 minutes beating this icing. 

Traditional birthday cake for my family is:

A box white cake mix (or white cake from scratch) with drops of food coloring dropped into the pan before baking. 

You will gently swirl it around with a butter knife but not so much that it becomes muddled.

If you look closely you can see the green peeking through. I have nearly run out of coloring with all the birthday cakes and need to purchase more. The blue and red are beautiful together.

You will see below the soft peaks form easily. Buttercream icing is supposed to be easy to work with

when decorating but it's not to our liking. We prefer the taste of this egg white base.

The weather will play a huge part in your success. If it is cloudy or the humidity is too high you set yourself up for failure; this results in a sticky icing that will only run down the layer of the cake. Try to make this on a sunny day. Good luck and don't forget to lick the beaters!

The Senior

It's almost time for competition. 

Stefan's Sr. year is winding down. Time is going too fast for me...

for his Dad...for his sister who left home when he was so young. 

The boys are men now and set upon discovering their careers.

Who would have guessed a welder purchased at the pawn shop would have

led to a career path?  The boys were surrounded by tools to experiment with.

It was one of the joys of growing up in the country.

Never did they lack for anything to do.

One too many football injuries led him here. 

A good man can work with his hands and his mind.

For all the areas he does not regard details, he completely makes up with his welding.

He is attentive and detailed in his work.

“So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron..." He must be skilled... 2 Chronicles 2:7

Every day after high school he goes to the local junior college and learns 

from the teacher and students to become more proficient.

They have embraced his eagerness and determination

to be the best he can be.

Late night practice for this one who is probably the best welding studentthe high school has had in at least 10 years.

Bragging?  Well, yeah, he is the first to be able go to competition.

We're proud!

Good Luck Stefan! 

Keep practicing! God Bless You in all you do.

Gifts & Glue

Yesterday I was asked to provide a brief bio of myself and to tell absolutely how wonderful and over-achieved I am. Now that will humble you in a heartbeat.  LOL
I understand how important it is to be honest about your gifts. They come from the Father. He carefully chose which ones would go to me and which ones you would have that I do not. It comes together to make things work.
I think of the areas my husband is gifted in...and I am not. My daughter has gifts that I see and wonder how I missed those....I love being hospitable but don't do a wonderful array of foods. I merely open my home and provide a comfortable cozy atmosphere. Many times I wish I had the talents my friend D. does with pulling together parties in an instant with "to die for" food. Gifts and callings are so different.
This week end I'll host my family for a quick get together since we won't be together for the holidays.
My sister says, "You are the glue. You hold things together. Whatever needs gluing you are the one for the job; you do it so well."
I guess thinking about it...being flexible and pulling things together isn't bad. Question is...can you say that on your bio?

Cold Calls

Weeks ago I was blog hopping...yes, it's a favorite sport of mine...and I happened up something called Bead Soup. I must admit I had to look at over half the participants' creations. I liked the idea. A kit arrives in the mail from a "new friend" you don't know you have yet...and you create a new piece of jewelry from the goods received.
So I fell upon  www.wrappedinsilver.com  and read of Ingrid. By chance she answered an email to let me contact her. I would be more hesitant but she was fine with her info and today I finally called her. I wanted to give hope and let her know about Reliv and how it's helping others with needs like theirs. It was a long conversation of talking about everything from kids & marriage to overseas travel and beads. We talked about God and how wonderful it is to hear His voice...how it makes a mark on you and you remember that time...how humans let us down...how we need to stay close to the Father when other's fall away. It was a time of sharpening and Scripture flowing from the heart of memory across miles to reach the East Coast.
God is good to let us share the Hope that is within even when we are within our own walls.
I Peter 3:15 "...always be ready..."

Baby Rooms

It's no secret that we have another grand baby on the way.

With no idea if it's a boy or girl, Madison's room can't be decorated just yet.

You know when you move to a new place you want to decorate...especially when you've

waited as long as they have for a larger apartment. 

I love the colors in this room. It's barely detectable.

The little birds fluttering over the window are "O So Sweet".

But more than anything I love the curtains.

They are simple white and that ruffle adds the perfect touch of femininity.

If we get a girl, I may just have to make these.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I went to see my parents for the Father's Day week end. Went to church with them and out to Rosa's for lunch. Oh my goodness! I stretched that meal into three, it was so much food. The eatery brought out slices of chocolate cake for all the dads. It's so nice to see someone go the extra mile.

Daddy was born in the Depression Era. He was one of eleven children born to Gid and Ola Crutchfield. He's also a twin and for many years the brothers lived just down the road from eachother. Lester and Vester once ran over a flock of guinnies just to see if they could be run over. The saying was that they were too fast for a car...well, these weren't of the "swift " breed and evidently the Crutchfield boys were faster in the Model-T. Vicie Lee ran out to see what the commotion was and found those two dead birds that belonged to Mr. Cutler down the road from their farm. She dressed them quick as she could and made Guinnie stew.

The family also used to pick blackberries and sell them to the colored folk in a neighboring community. If they got 25 cents a gallon, they were doing good. Daddy can't remember very well but I wonder if it was less, 'cause 25 cents was hard to come by.

Last year I took Daddy to the doctor and as we rouned the corner at 1510 he burst out with a story. Randomly he said, " That's the old Smiley place. One time Snowbie Jo called me and said, Lester, go to the house and look behind the door and find my shoes. He went and sure enough, they were right where she said." She was in town, he was in the country. He delivered those shoes. I pictured some little old lady dressed the way my Granny used to dress in her polka dot dress. No, this lady wasn't old...maybe she was his age. I'll never know. The story came and was gone just as quickly. I fell in love with her name though. What a great story.

Dad also once took a bus cross country with his future sister-in-law so she wouldn't travel by herself to see her fiance'. He served his country in the Merchant Marines and U.S. Army. He knew to keep neccessaties with him when he was abroad, like his coat. He kept the issued cigarettes (which he never smoked) and sold them to men who wanted them to make a little money. He sent most all of his money back home to his parents to support them and he lived off what the U.S. gave him. Onboard ship he loaned his coat to other sailors who hadn't the forthought to bring one. Everyone on watch would take turns in the night wearing Dad's coat. He was once on a ship that was one of near a hundred out in the ocean and all the ones around him were torpedoed. His was safe. He's had a life of many stories.

He laso served as County Judge my first 16 years. He went from a country boy who educated himself to the Judge. To my knowledge he's the only one who did that. The others were lawyers first. Quite a man to live up to. Happy Birthday PePaw!!!

Spring on Margaret

We sit outside now that the weather permits. In the evening if one family is outside the others will migrate over and visit for a while. The neighborhood rings with the laughter of children as they play with our new puppy, Sissy or as they run up the mountain. It's really a small pile of dirt waiting to be spread but "the mountain" is a wonderful land of adventure to the kids. We have watched as they play make believe and conquer new worlds that only their little minds can create. I hesitate to spread the dirt for it will mark a passing in their young life.

This family will soon move to a new house and we will miss them. I know they will miss life on Margaret; it's the way a neighborhood should be. We're kind of lost in the 40's or 50's. That time when people actually took time to get to know one another and nurture friendships. The ones you rely on when you need a friend, an egg or a cup of sugar. The ones you stop the day for to have a cup of tea.

This is Sissy cuddled up to Blue. He loves all small animals.....
Sissy is 9 weeks old. No, I'm not enjoying training her but Randy and the boys like her.

I found this old book as I dug through some boxes when we cleaned out our storage. Charles had a beautiful handwriting back in the day. I am sorry that we don't work as hard on our penmanship. It's another one of those things that make you pause and appreciate that someone worked so hard on something that today no one sees the value in. Back then, it would have been disgraceful to exhibit poor handwriting.

My flowers bloomed this year. I thought for sure they were dead from the harsh temps. last summer. What a surprise!

I miss my chickens terribly but my friend who now has them shares with me. I am ever so thankful for fresh eggs and marvel at the different colors.

Randy finished the flooring in the den. It's nice to have something that is similar to the original hardwoods instead of the 50's tiling. We painted over the robin-egg blue with a latte color and now we have the walls to decorate. I need to dig through my boxes and see what I have.

Wed. morning I woke to a tremendous storm. As I lay there I thought..."So this is what the tornado in the middle of the night sounds like..." The winds were ferocious and nearly sounded like a train. As the power went off and I lit candles, I peeked outside to find this in my front yard. As we live in an old neighborhood and all the homes are well over 100 years old, so are the trees quite old. This is just 1/4 of a tree. It missed all our houses and cars.

It became comical as we had 8 trucks out front and ten guys deciding how best to take care of the situation. They had their cell phones out taking pictures of the lines holding the branch. It was cable not electrical. PTL
Another spring event in Northeast Texas...Storms.
It just goes with the territory.